August 19th, 2010 by asia

My original baby birthed in 1994 due to extraneous circumstances, no love for Bboy Bgirl culture. Can you imagine a time when Bboys and Bgirls were ridiculed by fellow Hip-Hop purveyors? Not allowed into the clubs? Mocked for classic attire including Kangols, fat laces, name plate buckles and pro-keds? Perish the thought!

Now 16 years later, Bboy Bgirl dance lifestyle is as popular and in demand as ever, gracing TV, and film in a no moves barred way!

But Hip-Hop as a culture and a lifestyle that includes street creed, ethics of paying dues and earning your respect the hard way, and respecting and acknowledging those who paved the way.. these beliefs are in short supply these days. An often misunderstood and over imitated culture, the time is now to actualize our potential, come together stronger than ever as a commUnity and work together for sustainability and global change. We truly live a charmed life, w/o judgement of others race, class or creed, soley based on character and skillz! Which brings us to the question “What u workin with?” and “What will you leave behind/be remember for?”

For more info: www.bboysummit.com

August 3rd, 2010 by asia

REAL LIFE FILMS: Authentic Stories About US
Presented by ITVS, City of Los Angeles, Gang Reduction Youth Development Office, and Legacy LA

I almost passed this by since the picture didnt grab me (no disrespect to lady firefighters) but.. when I scrolled down and read the descriptions of these films and saw the pictures, i was sold. Truth be told, we need to hear these stories, that will inspire and compel us further in our pursuits, whatever they may be.. Put it on ur calendar and bring someone who needs it, or else you will forget.
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There has never been a better time than now to shine a light on stories of women affecting change around the world. This summer, join ITVS and dozens of television stations and community organizations across the country to present a special series of screenings that will highlight issues affecting women in the U.S. and across the globe.

AUGUST 10, 2010
Doors Open at 2:30 PM

Starts at 3 PM

GOING ON 13

By Kristy Guevara- Flanagan and Dawn D. Valadez

A brave and unflinching look into the face of modern-day puberty, GOING ON 13 follows four urban girls of color over the span of four years, from their uncomplicated elementary school lives to the crowded halls of middle school, where they confront sex, chat rooms and the powerful influence of popular culture.

Starts at 4 PM

TROOP 1500

By Ellen Spiro and Karen Bernstein

At the Gatesville Prison in Texas, a unique Girl Scout troop unites daughters with mothers who have been convicted of serious crimes. Facing steep sentences from the courts and tough questions from their children, the mothers struggle to rebuild relationships with the daughters who endure a childhood without them.
Light Dinner to Follow

Starts at 5:45 PM
Conversation with Filmmaker to Follow

ME FACING LIFE: Cyntoia’s Story

By Daniel Birman

Follows the sad and startling story of Cyntoia Brown, who is serving a life sentence for murder at the age of 16. ME FACING LIFE takes a hard look at some of the complex social issues concerning a 16-year-old girl who is serving a life sentence for murder. The filmmaker spent nearly six years exploring her life and familial relationships in order to answer a very basic question… why? This documentary pushes aside assumptions about what we think about violence and takes a glance into a startling social mirror that reveals a strong connection between violence in her maternal line and a predestined childhood filled with bad decisions.

VENUE INFO:
Legacy LA
1350 San Pablo Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(Inside the Hazard Park Armory, Behind USC Medical Center)

FOR MORE INFO EMAIL: COMMUNITYCINEMA@GMAIL.COM

ALL SCREENINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

SEATING IS LIMITED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED

August 2nd, 2010 by asia

What truly feeds you in your life?

Take a moment to think about what makes your days more enjoyable and worthwhile. Is it your morning yoga class? Time spent with your spouse or playing with your child? Maybe it’s the feeling of accomplishment at work?

Sometimes we’re fed not by food but by the energy in our lives.

It’s the things off of our plate – healthy relationships, regular physical activity, a fulfilling career and a spiritual practice – which can fill our soul and satisfy our hunger for life. We call these elements primary food.
So what is primary food?

Recall a time when you were deeply involved in an exciting project. You truly believed in what you were doing and felt confident and stimulated. Time fell away. Hours passed. Mealtime and sleep time were irrelevant. Or think back to your childhood, a time when you were playing outside and having fun. Suddenly, your mother announced dinner was ready, but you weren’t hungry at all. The passion of play took all of your attention.

These moments and experiences demonstrate that everything is food. We hunger for play, fun, romance, intimacy, love, achievement, success, self-expression, leadership, excitement, adventure and spirituality. When our primary food is lacking or out of balance, many of us reach for secondary food as a way to alleviate or suppress our hunger for primary food. Weight gain is often a consequence, along with more serious diet-related disorders such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Chronic depression is also widespread in our society. Many also experience frustration, anger, disappointment, sadness and isolation.

These conditions and emotions are all cries for primary food, but instead of giving ourselves what we really need, we tend to find comfort and solace in secondary food. The problem is that this substitution does not work. If you are not getting the primary food you need, you will never be able to eat enough to satisfy your hunger.

July 27th, 2010 by asia

This one goes out to all the single moms out there, bcuz only we know life on the inside! Its funny bcuz I was feeling my own blues and wanted to look up what other women were saying, or how they cope. I feel like it was passed down to us by our families, our own broken families. We get use to our life w our child and how we roll on a day to day. We def dont take no mess! And we gotta lotta love to give! Not to much on the subject online, outside of dating (ha!) like i would tell them i had kids (hahaha!) or how to cope w being newly “single” i guess. And how to add and keep a man to the equation if they dare! Cuz we really dont need em and wont take no mess! Those 2 things can be very hard for someone to measure up to. In essence, they have to get down w the tribe vibe or it aint gona work. Weak or selfish ones need not apply. And as the Earth is my witness, we dont put anyone b4 our kids, (unless we on crack). nuff said. If we were an army we could give the Taliban some competition! Put us in office, cuz we dont play, wont let the tribe down! Lets raise a fist in the air and shoot the world w love bullets!

July 17th, 2010 by asia

Waacking is making a steady comeback in the street dance scene. And why shouldn’t it? Its fun, flamboyant, and done to anything from old soul songs to disco to house and probably a lot of music in between, depending on the Waacker. Whats a trip is that a lot of guys are into it now that aren’t gay! haha! My mentor and good buddy Shabba Doo is my favorite Waacker ever, the depth of emotion that he exudes, and the strength of his movements are paramount in my eyes. Ana “Lollipop” Sanchez is my favorite female dancer in the world! This woman is the definition of Waacking to me. A true sensual beast, Lollipop owns Waacking, when she steps onto the floor. She is the best teacher I have ever seen for Waacking, as her focus is on the subtle nuances that truly make this dance what it is. This dance can range from sublimely sensual, teasing, to aggressive in your face, to over the top burlesque, stripper feel. Whose gonna tell a gay dude at the club what he can and cant do? Waacking comes from LA, circa 1970′s (the best years!), and was a club dance movement. “The name “Waacking“ originated from The Soul Train Dancers themselves. “Garbo” is another name given to the dance because of the posing element emulating glamorous women from the forties era.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waacking

Ana “Lollipop” Sanchez will be teaching Waacking this Sunday in LA! Here is her mini tour schedule! Come and join in, you will be glad you did!

ANA LOLLIPOP SANCHEZ: B-PASSION-ITT WORKSHOPS TOUR CALENDAR DATES JULY -AUGUST. Yesterday at 11:56am
Come and experience an opportunity to learn from a true pioneer and legend for her locking , waackin and punking styles , Dance Star of Breakin 1 and Breakin 2 : Electric Boogaloo, Ana Lollipop Sanchez

Sharing the roots of it’s origins through basic fundamentals & technique
Ana be showing you steps and patterns with elements of behavior from life through dance

Learn to use your emotions: B-Passion-itt – Build strength – Feel sexy & develop an understanding in musicality, this is just the first step of many more to come..

Sunday July 18th at 4pm-6pm
EVOLUTION DANCE STUDIOS
4200 Lankershim Blvd.
Universal City, CA 91602

Tel: 818-754-1760 818-754-1760
PRICE: $15

JULY 29-30th
ORIGINS OF HIP HOP AND FUNKDANCE STYLES
STUDIO ONE –
7925 W. Sahara, Suite #101 call for time
Las Vegas, Nv. 89117 702-205-8827
Price: $35
to register for this event go to www.facebook/lockadelic

AUGUST 2nd mon 8:30-10pm / 3rd tues 8:30-10pm
CULTURE SHOCK SAN DIEGO
Culture Shock Dance Center
2110 Hancock St
San Diego, CA 92110
Price: $15

COME ONE COME ALL
THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP-LAO TZU

June 25th, 2010 by asia

June 25, 2009, Will we ever forget that date? Never! A year later, and we are surprised how quickly time passed. We are just starting to get our MJ groove back on, especially the young ones. As traumatizeed as we all were by his passing, eyes closed in solace, the youth of today’s eyes were wide open.. Who was he, this strange man whom so many people had so many things to say about? Miss Asia they would ask me, “How did he dance like that?” We have an obligation to honor him through our children, the ones he truly cared about. As we went through our own private mourning, the music and dance that created his legacy beated on so strong, that the kids of today took hold of it, and wont let go! So a year strong, and Michael fever is alive and well. It came about at a much needed time in humanity when we really weren’t acting to humane anymore. He made us remember, we are all the same, and it’s our collective duty to see past the skin we are in and to love one another. MJ makes us strive harder for greatness, because at the end of the day, what we leave is all we will be remember for. What will you leave behind?

Michael Jackson tribute parties and family gatherings happening around LA and NYC:

June 21st, 2010 by asia

On cosmically potent days like today, I like to get planetary, and this days is dedicated to our beloved Sun! The longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer Solstice has traditionally marked one of the most magical days of the year, a time for celebrations, where at night potent charms are cast and intentions for great wishes that one wants to come true.
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“The calendar was very important—much more important than it is now,” said Ricky Patterson, an astronomer at the University of Virginia. “People wanted to know what was going to happen so that they could be ready.”

As the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, this marks one of the four Cardinal Ingresses in the year – the others being Aries, Libra and Capricorn, important marking points in the progress of the annual solar cycle, being times of renewal.

First Day of Summer Sparked Ancient Celebrations:
-Egyptians built the Pyramids strategically to view Solstice sun setting.
-Inca festival Inti Raymi that involved food and animal sacrifices.
-Stonehenge in the United Kingdom was also built with the intention of specific stones marking the sun rising of the Solstice.

A time for celebration indeed, but also an important marker in the calendar that signified a turning point in the growing season had been reached.

Lets tune in today to the magnificent vibrations of this day, set new goals, be thankful for abundance, and share it with all humans that inhabit this Earth, creating new rituals for the 21century!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/100621-summer-solstice-2010-first-day-of-summer-longest-year-science/

June 18th, 2010 by asia

Thanks to the Lakers winning the championship, our LA pride cant hide.
If you hate LA then you really dont get it, if you never been here well then you can still come kick it. Lets take a break from the entanglements of technology and reflect on the City of Angels, and the karmatic implications that the name holds..
I love LA. There is so much good energy here. From the sun to the sand, imported palm trees next to native succulents, we come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, dont care about whose “legal”, and call ourselves Caliheads! We are purveyors of good ass burritos and sushi, ghetto and bougie, real and fake louie, swap meet flyness mixed with some beat swap meet records (yes some of us do still buy vinyl, call us cra-cra). Some Snoop, Dam funk to Flying Lotus, Mr. French, big azz raves to daytime do-over, house music lovers to mariachi mexican circus.. We crown this town regal in purple and gold. Talk shit about the Lakers and your ass gone get drove..outside city limits but u gots to drive real far. Cuz LA’s so big, all you can see is the stars.
So lets talk about what we really love about LA:
- The weather is pure bliss, always
- The weed, is pure bliss, always
- Always something to do somewhere
- Cool art scene
- Hot girls and some fine dudes
- Dope whips
- Crenshaw
- Venice Beach
- Echo Park
- Chinatown (and San Gabriel Valley)
- Griffith Park
- Endless museums and cultural happenings
- Always some cool lil spot goin on
- Cool Bboy/Bgirl scene
- Creative theatre, music, entertainment scene
-Elote, tamales, tamarindo, dulce de leche, and all things Mexican
-Official Thai food blurry but good at 3am
-Official Ethiopian food at 3am
-Those pool parties with dope deejays
-Going everywhere else and then coming back home to LA. Heres to you!

June 16th, 2010 by asia

Now i know that sounds bragadocious but I have come across one natural product that deals with:
-Natural antibiotic that fights infections
-Ear Rinse
-Nasal Rinse
-gargle
-Skin rinse (skin irritations)
-Douche
-nail fungus
-scalp treatment
-facial cleanser
And that is Grapefruit seed Extract! Try to get Unfiltered formula. www.nutribiotic.com

May 24th, 2010 by asia

Detox Naturally!

We hear a lot about detoxifying… it’s kind of a buzzword really, but do
We know why and how we should detoxify?

Well for starters, toxins surround us in urban environments: the air we breathe (pollution, smoke), water we drink (lead from pipes, chemicals from water sources), and food we eat (pesticides, chemically enhanced). Add the toxic effects of stress (cortisol) and you have a recipe for disaster!

So in essence, detoxification is basically a cleansing routine to reduce the body’s toxic load. Instead of calling Tyrone to deal with all this toxic baggage we have a better approach to healing and riding our bodies of excess built up toxins.

If you have complaints such as fatigue that you notice is in excess of what you regularly feel, or skin rashes like eczema, or even excess weight, its your bodies way of saying, “Yo, clean me out!”.

Here is a basic chart that everyone can follow to keep the body clean throughout the year:

Daily use:
- Detox tea I recommend Triple Leaf Tea (A traditional Chinese Medicinal tea blend) has burdock and dandelion to cleanse blood.
-Fiber (adheres to fat and carries it out of colon, lowers cholesterol, bowel health)
-Probiotics (displaces harmful microbes, regulates immunity, enhances digestion)
-Green Foods (Sea moss, spirulina, chlorella all have concentrated nutrients and promote purification and rejuvenation)
-Red Foods (antioxidants, also fights infection and inflammation)
Also, consider an annual fast to really cleanse and eliminate. This site has great information on detoxification on every level: http://www.womentowomen.com/detoxification/naturalbodydetoxification.aspx